The fight of the century happened albeit without controversy. Unfortunately, the real dispute occurred long before the first round between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

ESPN’s Michelle Beadle & CNN’s Rachel Nichols went on the offensive on Mayweather. Why would they attack one of the best boxers in the world, you ask? Is it because of his on-air persona or jealousy? Actually, it’s because of an issue that must be dealt with: Domestic Violence.

It’s a shame that it hasn’t been addressed yet, at least from Mayweather or any of his camp.

The two were very vocal about Mayweather’s history with women. According to Deadpsin, there are at least seven accounts against Mayweahter. He allegedly attacked five women that resulted in arrests and citations but no charges field against him.

They stem back all the way from 2001, where he received a suspended six-month jail sentence, a $3,000 fine, 48 hours of community service and two days of house arrest.

In 2003, Mayweather attacked two women at a Las Vegas nightclub and found guilty of two counts of domestic battery. He received a similar sentence for each and received a $500 fine. In 2010, he attacked the mother of his three children. His oldest son called the police. That resulted in Mayweather serving two months of a 90-day sentence.

You’d think Mayweather would learn his lesson by now. Unfortunately, he didn’t.

In an interview with Nichols, Mayweather showed little remorse and added how they were just allegations. This is the same man with a prison record for these cases.

Beadle was also critical of Maywaether on his past cases. This led to a violation of free speech and equality.

The damage has been done; Mayweather’s decreasing popularity is probably nonexistent at this point.

What’s disturbing isn’t certain reporters being omitted; it’s his critics. Banning people who openly attacked you in a fair matter is juvenile. Then again, you shouldn’t expect less from the wealthiest current boxer who hasn’t even acknowledged his crimes to the public.

It’s unlike anything ever seen before. All Mayweather did was further tarnish his shattered image. You’d think he would learn from his mistakes. Instead, he compounds them with new ones.

The ones that should be commended are Beadle and Nichols. They took a stand and held nothing back through different methods. Nichols confronted Mayweather head on in their interview, while Beadle used social media as her platform.

They were the ones who stood up and paid the price. However, they will come off better for this. They addressed the issue while running into an ignorant man who wants to change the subject.

It’s ironic considering a man who’s been accused of greed and wanting the attention on him refuses to acknowledge his faults. He wants to be perceived as perfect, when we all know perfection in a person doesn’t exist.

Floyd Mayweather really is the Chris Brown of the sports world: a talented, egotistical man who won’t admit when he was wrong. It’s a safe bet to skip the replay on HBO next week. But don’t do it as a boxing fan.

Do it as a message to boxing. Domestic abuse is still a problem that must end immediately. Watching Mayweather fight supports that growing problem.